On Wednesday 8th of October V8 Supercar Drive, Jack Perkins walked around the Mount Panorama Racetrack with 250 other walkers to help raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes Research.
Jack, the son of legendary V8 Supercar Driver Larry Perkins, was last year diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, just as he was establishing himself on the Racetrack.
But twelve months on Jack now has his condition under control, and has also returned with great enthusiasm and success to the racing circuit.
“I’m back on track now and I’m feeling really good. I know what I need to do in monitoring and adjusting my blood sugar levels. The Accu-Chek® meter tells me exactly where my levels are and I know from experience where they need to be so I can perform at my best,” said Jack.
Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes is the most serious form of the disease, affecting over 140,000 Australians. The majority of people living with type one are diagnosed when they are children and live with it all their lives, making them dependent on multiple injections of insulin every day. Unlike other forms of diabetes it is not caused by diet, it cannot be prevented, and there is no cure.
The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a national event, with different walks held around the country. More than 60,000 people participated last year, raising over $2 million. In 2008, even more families and individuals are expected to support this important cause while enjoying a fun and friendly outing.